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I think this is the best time to have oily skin. We have a wide variety of skincare products to choose from, especially when it comes to moisturizers. Concerning formulation, we have oil-free moisturizers and humectant, water-based moisturizers to hydrate the skin without clogging pores. And considering texture, we have milky, liquid moisturizers that feel weightless on the skin! And now, we have a say in the finish of our moisturizer with the help of mattifying moisturizers.
Mattifying moisturizers take things to a whole new level. They not only replenish the skin without aggravating oiliness but also act the part; they mattify your complexion! Much like a mattifying primer, a mattifying moisturizer gives you a shine-free, smooth complexion. And of course, it hydrates your skin, keeps your pores clear, and doesn’t give you blackheads or acne.
Though you can consider a matte finish moisturizer as your daily go-to moisturizer, it’s especially helpful during hot and humid seasons when the weather simply makes things worse. Because sometimes, an oil-free moisturizer isn’t enough. You want to also make sure it does something to prevent your skin from getting greasier later on during the day.
But don’t go ahead and grab the first moisturizer that claims to have a matte finish. The fact that it mattifies doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right one for you. For example, don’t assume that all matte moisturizers are oil-free. Some do contain oils. And some also contain silicones, which help with the mattifying effect.
So we still have a little bit of selecting to do. But most of the time, mattifying moisturizers are non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, and lightweight. To help you in the process, we’ve rounded up below our favorite mattifying moisturizers that help oily skin control shine.
The Best Mattifying Moisturizers
La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat Mattifying Moisturizer For Oily Skin
Anyone who claims to have oily skin has used this moisturizer at some point in their lives. It has the dream formulation to manage a shiny complexion. It’s oil-free, formulated with oily skin in mind, and has a matte finish. And the best part is that it has lipo-hydroxy acid, which is a derivative of salicylic acid.
So it actually helps with breakouts, enlarged pores, and congested skin. Plus, the added silicones help the moisturizer have a blurring effect on the skin. So you get to hydrate your skin and enjoy a matte, smooth complexion. Whether you have oily skin or combination skin, the moisturizer is a tried and true option and is suitable for sensitive skin too.
Key Ingredients: Lipo-hydroxy acid, glycerin
Size: 1.35 oz
Good To Know: Oil-free, non-comedogenic, contains fragrance
Caudalie Vinopure Oil-Control Moisturizer For Acne Prone Skin
If ‘oil-free’ is not a must for you, then this non-comedogenic moisturizer might be the one to consider. Sometimes, having a slightly more emollient moisturizer isn’t such a bad thing, especially when your skin is combination/dry or when it’s going through a phase and feels extra dry.
This mattifying moisturizer hydrates with squalane and locks water in with lightweight emollients. And instead of relying on silicones, it mattifies your skin with tiny oily-absorbing powders. And of course, it’s packed with grape-derived antioxidants to care for your skin and smells like a garden.
Key Ingredients: Squalane, grape seed extract, sunflower seed oil
Size: 1.35 oz/ 40 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, non-comedogenic
Origins Original Skin Matte Moisturizer
And speaking of scents, this is another mattifying moisturizer with a nice smell. All other oil-free moisturizers from Origins are simply amazing for people with oily, acne-prone skin. But if you insist on a completely matte finish, this is the one to grab.
It has hyaluronic acid and glycerin as humectants to plump the skin. And it packs lightweight emollients to moisturize. Its gel texture goes on easily and dries down to a matte finish quickly. It’s formulated with silicones and silica to absorb excess oil and keep your skin shine-free.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, bamboo extract, lavender oil, caffeine
Size: 1.7 oz/ 50 ml
Murad Acne Control Oil and Pore Control Mattifier SPF 45
Yes, sun protection is important for all skin types. But when you have oily skin and pores, the stakes are higher. Because unprotected sun exposure damages your skin’s elasticity. And with age, the skin gets saggier and loose, which makes pores look larger than ever. That’s why it’s important to be diligent about SPF.
On the flip side, it’s difficult to find a matte sunscreen, especially with chemical sunscreens. That’s why I love this. This is a mattifying moisturizer with SPF 45. And it checks all the boxes. It’s oil-free, it hydrates with amino acids, packs microparticles to absorb shine throughout the day, and protects your skin with broad-spectrum SPF. So you can enjoy summer without worrying about sun protection or skin that gets greasier by the minute.
Key Ingredients: Amino acids, vitamin E, allantoin
Size: 1.7 oz/ 50 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free, oil-free, contains fragrance
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer
OK, this is a super affordable drugstore moisturizer that gives your skin a matte finish and addresses acne. Because it’s made with salicylic acid. But it’s still gentle enough to use daily even if you have sensitive skin. The concentration is 0.5%, so it’s already beginner-friendly. And because it’s in cream form, it’s very unlikely to irritate.
But more importantly, it contains anti-inflammatory, skin brightening goodies. And they’re useful if your skin is prone to acne and you’re dealing with acne marks too. It fades discolorations with kojic acid and licorice extract. And it’s incredibly moisturizing with a tad bit thicker consistency formulated with squalane and silicones. It’s fragrance-free and an amazing mattifying moisturizer for people with oily and acne-prone skin.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, kojic acid, squalane, licorice extract
Size: 3 oz/ 89 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, hypoallergenic
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oil-Control Moisturizer
To be honest, I love FAB’s Intense Hydration Cream. It’s a skin saver for dry, winter skin, especially when you use it in your evening routine. But again, a dewy, radiant finish is not preferable when your skin is already oily during the day. So this is the better option for that. The oil-free moisturizer has a matte finish and doesn’t add shine to your skin during the day no matter how much you sweat.
Its light, gel texture absorbs fast and leaves an invisible smooth feel on the skin. It’s formulated with oil-absorbing micro powders. But to help minimize pores and reduce oil, it has niacinamide and green tea as well as anti-inflammatory licorice extract. It’s fragrance-free and provides long-lasting moisture without clogging or magnifying pores.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, oat extract, green tea
Size: 1.7 oz/ 50 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic
Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Mattifying Hydrator Pore Minimizing Gel
Most skin types won’t even care what a ‘hydrator’ is except for oily skin. A hydrator aims to increase the water content in the skin and has nothing to do with oils. As you can imagine, that’s exactly what oily skin types need. Give me water, give me hydration, and leave my oil glands alone!
With that in mind, this hydrator replenishes the skin with humectants and an overachiever like polyglutamic acid. Polyglutamic acid both hydrates the skin and prevents water loss. The silicone-based moisturizer also blurs out the visibility of pores and mattifies the skin with powder particles. It both reduces and prevents oiliness in the skin. The gel-textured moisturizer is perfect for oily skin with enlarged pores and texture irregularities.
Key Ingredients: Polyglutamic acid, vitamin E
Size: 1.7 oz
Good To Know: Contains alcohol
Bioderma Sebium Mat Control Shine-Control Moisturizer
This drugstore mattifying moisturizer is perfect if you want to use your product as a primer too. Because this goes on super easily under makeup and helps your foundation look matte too. It instantly blurs out large pores and leaves a velvety feel on the skin.
And it’s got zinc and salicylic acid to help with acne and congestion too. It infuses the skin with hydrating glycerin and keeps shine at bay with its silicone base. No matter what you put on the skin that gives you shine, lock it in with this moisturizer to put a matte veil on the skin and keep it that way all day.
Key Ingredients: Zinc, salicylic acid
Size: 1 oz/ 30 ml
Good To Know: Contains fragrance
So these are some of the best mattifying moisturizers out there. I’d like to recommend one more product, not necessarily a moisturizer, but a goldmine for people with oily skin. It’s Dior Matte Maximizer. It’s actually an exfoliating face serum made for oily/combination skin. But it has an incredibly smooth, matte finish. Consider that one as an addition to your evening routine to exfoliate and wake up to shine-free skin.
